We LOVE a good sew-along. And we LOVE a good pattern – especially one that is versatile enough to work with Layer Cakes, Charm Packs or Mini Charms. More importantly, we’d LOVE for you to join us! -Carrie Nelson @ModaFabrics

#sawitloveditmadeit

When is it? January 24 is Moda’s official starting date for the sewing and sew-along.There will be introductory posts on Instagram, Facebook and Moda’s Cutting Table Blog on January 17th.

Where can you join in the sew along? . At your local participating shop (come see us at Rocking Chair Quilts if you can get here). Don’t have a #modaloveshop near you? Join in online: search the hashtag #modalovequilt. on your social media. And on Moda’s social media.

Why a Sew Along? Because sew-alongs are one of the best ways to make sewing-creating fun. Whether you like to create solo or with others.

Sew-alongs also provide terrific opportunities for a visit to your local quilt shop for a bit of in-shop-sewcializing

or….

make your own sew along by meeting up with like minded quilters to create quilts and build the bonds of friendship.

Why the Moda Love Quilt Sew Along? Because you can start with precuts, the Moda love quilt is fun and you will be done pretty quickly . Easy to sew together too - this pattern can be a great teaching quilt for those starting their journey through the quilting nation.

We would LOVE to see what you will stitch together with the Love Quilt pattern! Whereever you share your love quilt projects, be sure and use the hashtag – #modalovequilt.

To get your inspiration rolling here’s a gallery of grabs from the #modalovequilt hashtag.

Quilts by #modamakers from around the world.

What’s NEXT?

Coming soon to RCQ!

January 26, 2019–

Local Quilt Shop Day is a worldwide event designed to raise awareness of the importance of independent quilt shops to the local economy. It is a day for consumers and retailers to celebrate the creative pursuits of quilters, sewists, fabric enthusiasts, and crafters everywhere and to support the local quilt shops that make it all possible.

This event, held annually on the fourth Saturday in January, will be held in 2019 on Saturday, January 26.

Thanks for reading! Until we blog again, be sure to take time out and Enjoy the Sew!® - Carol and staff @RCQ

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Swell Christmas fabric collection by Urban Chiks for #modafabrics features cotton & PVC coated prints! Today I'm sharing the projects I made and a few tips for sewing with these coated fabrics.

Sunday afternoons I like to visit my sewing machine and enjoy some fabrics. This week I wanted to try and sew a few things with Swell Christmas by Urban Chiks for Moda Fabrics. Most especially, the 3 PVC coated Swell Christmas prints .

These coated prints are perfect for snack bags, place mats, aprons, bibs , table cloths, zippered pouches, notebook covers and more. There are so many ideas and patterns on line, it didn't take long to find free patterns for these 2 quick to make projects

The scrap bag has self ties that you can use to hang it around the headrest in your car, but it also looks cute with the top folded down so that the coated inside fabric peeks out. I can put one in my car , but I think I will use these for scrap catchers at my sewing table

The zipper pouch really only took 10 minutes to make once I had printed Petit Chou's free pattern and cut out the simple shapes needed for the pouch

I have sewn with the iron on vinyl before, but not with a fabric that was already coated. These 3 PVC coated prints that are part of the Swell Christmas collection were fun and easy to work with.

Sewing with coated fabrics requires a few precautions: avoid pins, the holes they leave won't go away. Instead use wonder clips or binding clips to hold pieces together while stitching.

Be careful if you decide you want to iron your work, test a scrap of your coated fabric on a cooler temperature setting, or risk melting it. For these small projects that I decided to make, I was able to hold things in place with my fingers, so I didn't pin or use clips. Although I didn't use my iron. I did press my seams flat with a wooden press as I worked.

You may have a teflon presser foot that is designed for sewing vinyl and plastic. I found these PVC coated prints from Moda to be SO soft, easy to handle and almost silky to the touch, so I just left my all purpose foot. and had no issues. I only switched to my zipper foot when I wanted to stitch closely to the zipper on the zippered pouch. If you find that the PVC coated fabrics are grabbing or sticking instead of feeding nicely through your machine, by all means use the special presser foot that you may have.

That sweet retro Santa towel is part of a set of Swell Christmas Towels from Moda. I think we should put one set in the kitchen and maybe I will use a second set to make a pillow. what would you make with these holiday towels?

CLICK HERE for Anabelle Short’s list of projects you can make with plastic coated fabrics. Anabelle's list is where I found these 2 projects and so much more. Please share what you made with the Swell Christmas collection #swellchristamsfabrics on Instagram , or post photos on my FACEBOOK page and I will share it forward.

thanks for reading ☺ until we blog again be sure and take some time to Enjoy the Sew!®

We woke up this morning with the happy realization that the first annual National Jelly Roll Day had finally arrived. A banner day was thoroughly enjoyed by everyone here at RCQ and all our guests.

Now that the daylight has vanished from the Illinois prairie we can, with Moda Fabrics United Notions' permission, release the much anticipated #projectjellyroll patterns here for you as free downloads

A BIG thank you to Brigette Heiland of Zen Chic and Moda for providing these NSAJRD patterns.

To start you off - here is a little gift from RockingChairQuilts.com : A Jelly Roll Tip Card and pre-cut yardage chart for you to download and keep as a handy reference. If you are nearby and can come into the shop we will give you one when you buy a Jelly Roll (while supplies last)

Post pictures of any Jelly Roll projects you are working on (or even the ones that you finish ) on Facebook , Instagram, Twitter. Use the #projectjellyroll to share your fun with everyone who enjoys a Moda Jelly Roll.

Love a Jelly Roll? If you are hungry for more Jelly Roll goodness be sure and visit ModaBakeShop.com

Lots of jelly roll patterns there, all free for you to enjoy.

We enjoyed some yummy Jelly Roll themed snacks here at the quilt shop today. If you got too busy to stop by ( or just live somewhere else in the world ) we thought it would be nice to share the recipes here.

Save the date: SEPTEMBER 16. 2017

F3

#projectjellyrollPlan to visit Rocking Chair Qullts, in store & online to be a part of National Sew a Jelly Roll Day and to experience F3Wait, what? What is F3 ?
Wait a minute - that looks like math.
F3= fabric + fun + food

(OK, that still looks like math , but I think I like this kind of math) ☺ read on.........

Moda Fabrics / United Notions has designated the 3rd Saturday in September of every year as National Sew A Jelly Roll Day to encourage collectors to tear open a Moda Jelly Roll and make something for themselves, as a gift or for charity! It can be a quilt or a tote bag, a pillowcase or something to wear, it doesn’t matter so long as we seize the day and celebrate the joy of being a maker. Share your day on social media with #projectjellyroll. You might even win a prize!

Make this quick baby quilt, perfect for summertime naps, play or a gift for that special little one. This quilt features Sharktown fabrics by Shawn Wallace for Riley Blake Designs

It is so much fun to have this playful Riley Blake collection in the quilt shop this summer. I stitched up this campshirt and sundress (with matching doll dress) using patterns from Olive Ann and Fishsticks .

Summertime togs for your toddler.

These fabrics are adorable so I couldn't stop there. I wanted to make a quilt with Sharktown . I wanted it to be something easy and sized right for little ones.

We have been featuring the churn dash block in our summer programs here in the shop this year, so I started my design with that . I plumped up the size of the block pieces to make it quick to do and to feature the prints in the collection without cutting them into squares that were too small, and the Chubby Churn Dash block was the result

SHARKTOWN + CHURN DASH = SHARKTOWN DASH

The Sharktown Dash Quilt is so quick to make you'll have it put together in no time at all. Start with some of fabric designer Shawn Wallace's Sharktown collection - stitch up six chubby churn dash blocks, add sashing, borders and you get this sweet Sharktown Dash quilt. (you could add more chubby churn dash blocks for a bigger quilt).

Sewing the 6 blocks:

Take one background square and one blue block square . Place squares RST (notice how my blue block fabric has a directional print)

Draw a diagonal line on the back of the light squares. Please note that because my blue block fabric is directional , I need to draw one of my diagonal lines in the opposite direction of the other line, This will keep all my HST positioned correctly in the finished block.....or it is much easier to say it keeps all my sharks swimming in the right direction ☺